Yarn Over (YO)
A yarn over is made by wrapping the yarn over the right needle without knitting a stitch. Used to create lace holes or increase stitch count.
Explanation
A yarn over (yo) is a simple knitting technique where you wrap the working yarn over the right needle before knitting the next stitch. On the next row/round, the yarn over is knitted as a normal stitch. This creates an intentional hole in the fabric and increases the stitch count by one, making it a key component of lace patterns and decorative increases. However, if done accidentally, it is called an unwanted yarn over, which creates unexpected holes and extra stitches.
Also known as: YO, Over
How to make a yarn over
Bring the yarn over the right needle without working a stitch, then knit the next stitch as usual. On the following row the yarn over is worked as an ordinary stitch, leaving a hole.
Between two knit stitches the yarn goes front to back over the needle. Between a knit and a purl, the yarn has to travel an extra time around — otherwise the yarn over disappears.
Holes on purpose
The yarn over is the only increase that deliberately makes a hole, which makes it the building block of all lace. It is also used for buttonholes and for decorative increases along shawl spines.
An accidental yarn over is at the same time the most common reason a stitch count suddenly grows. An extra stitch with a small hole beneath it is nearly always this.
The basis of lace
A yarn over lays an extra strand across the needle that becomes a stitch with a hole beneath it. In lace it is always paired with a decrease, so the stitch count stays constant even though the hole appears.
It is exactly this pairing — yarn over and decrease — that lets a lace pattern grow in height without growing wider.
Direction and size
Which way you lay the yarn over the needle decides whether the stitch sits correctly or twisted on the next row. Laid the other way you get a smaller, tighter hole — some patterns exploit that deliberately.
A double yarn over, wrapping the yarn twice, produces a large hole and is used for pronounced openings.
The yarn over that keeps disappearing
A yarn over is the only increase that deliberately leaves a hole, which makes it the basis of all lace. It is also the increase most often lost, especially at the start of a row or between a knit and a purl.
The direction matters: from a knit stitch to another knit stitch, bring the yarn to the front between the needles and over the right needle. Between different stitch types the wrap changes, and getting it wrong either loses the yarn over on the next row or leaves it mounted backwards, producing a noticeably smaller hole. If you find yourself a stitch short after a lace row, a dropped yarn over is the first thing to check.
Common mistakes
- Knitting the yarn over twisted on the next row, which closes the hole.
- Letting the yarn over slip off the needle before it is worked.
- Making a yarn over unintentionally when the yarn crosses the needle.
- Forgetting the extra wrap when the yarn over falls between a knit and a purl.
Keywords
- yarn over
- accidental yarn over
- lace pattern
- unwanted yarnover
- YO
- lace knitting
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a yarn over and an increase?
A yarn over is an increase — it just leaves a hole. M1 increases add a stitch without one.
Why do the holes disappear in my lace?
Because the yarn overs are worked twisted on the next row. A twisted stitch tightens and closes the hole.
My yarn overs come out different sizes. Why?
Usually because the wrap direction is inconsistent between knit-to-knit and knit-to-purl transitions, so some are mounted the standard way and some are mounted backwards and worked twisted. It also happens when the stitch after the yarn over is worked tightly, which robs the loop of yarn.
Why is my stitch count growing for no reason?
Almost always accidental yarn overs. They look like extra stitches with a small hole beneath them.
How do I make an increase without a hole?
Then a yarn over is not what you want. Use M1L or M1R, which make the stitch from the strand between two stitches and close the hole.